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The fashion industry is the second biggest polluter in the world. Major brands are exploiting garment workers and harming the environment in the production of shoes and clothing. However, there has been a rise in sustainable fashion brands, making everything from sportswear to underwear who are putting people and the planet before profit.

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As food & drink prices continue to rise across the world, it is often the producers and workers who are losing out to big corporations. We shine a light on the food sovereignty movement pushing for a fairer food system that supports local business and we comment on the rise of veganism.

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Many of the issues from our homes & garden are often hidden from the consumer, from toxic chemicals in our cleaning products to pesticides in our garden. We look at the greenest way to wash, clean and cook and how to recycle your old appliances.

The mainstream banking & insurance industries continue to invest in shady investments such as fossil fuels and nuclear weapons. However, a growing number of ethical alternatives makes it easier than ever to switch to a sustainable bank account or pick an insurance company with an ethical policy.

We look at shops or online platforms that sell a range of products, and how they tend to dominate the market by implementing a profit-first business model and by having a lacklustre approach to ethical practice. We also celebrate ethical companies offering an alternative, from online retailers to sustainable fashion brands.

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The tech sector is plagued by reports of tax avoidance, corporate lobbying and the use of conflict minerals. We look at the brands proving that technology can be made ethically, from Fairphone to Green ISP.

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Are you a lover of the outdoors? Unfortunately the companies that provide your outdoor gear & transport are often harming the environment; from car companies cheating emission tests to outdoor gear companies using toxic chemicals that damage the environment. We provide practical information for consumers on how to keep your ethics while you travel.

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According to the eBay website, viewed by Ethical Consumer in August 2018, the company was providing on online ecommerce platform for the US military.
A blog on the website stated, "The Army and Air Force Exchange Service (Exchange), the 47th largest retail organization in the U.S., employing more than 42,000 civilian and military personnel, has awarded VendorNet [a wholey owned subsidiary of ebay] a multi-year contract to replace legacy dropship management technology."

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In August 2018 Ethical Consumer searched the eBay website for information on the company's supply chain management.

Ethical Consumer would expect a company to have a good supply chain policy, details of how it audited its supply chain, details of how it engaged with wider stakeholders such as trade unions, and how it managed difficult issues.

Ebay had none of this, as no details could be found. The company thus received Ethical Consumer's worst rating in the category.

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According to the hoovers website hoovers.com, viewed by Ethical Consumer in August 2018, ebay had subsidiaries in Russia and China. At the time of writing Ethical Consumer these countries to be governed by oppressive regimes.

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An article in the Guadian in May 2016 told how by an overwhelming majority, eBay shareholders had voted against releasing information about any gap in pay between male and female employees.

The shareholder proposal, filed by Arjuna Capital, called for eBay to prepare a report about the company’s policies and goals to reduce any gender pay gap.

The company board recommended that shareholders vote against the proposal, stating that it would “not enhance the company’s existing commitment to an inclusive culture or meaningfully further its goal and efforts in support of workplace diversity”.

“Approximately 7.4% of shares voted were in favor of the gender pay proposal,” Johnna Hoff, communications director of eBay, told the Guardian.

According to the Form 8-K filed with the SEC following the meeting, there were 67,915,263 votes for the proposal and 735,069,693 votes against it.